Dominance - #10: Trust
Disclaimer: Digimon, Ken Ichijouji and Daisuke Motomiya aren't mine (**sniffs sadly**) and neither is anyone else. Nothing's mine except the fic and everything's borrowed and no profit's been made. So don't sue.
Hikari could admit to having some nasty experiences in her short life. Having been a sickly child and almost dying certainly hadn't been fun, even if she couldn't remember much of it. She knew Taichi still felt guilty over it sometimes, but he had only been a kid as well. He hadn't been to blame. Her first experience with digimon certainly had been interesting, but unfortunately she couldn't remember much about that either. And let's not forget the mad search Myotismon had done for her when she had been the unknown Eighth Child. Now that had been scary. But she'd somehow, miraculously, stayed alive and got her digimon for it. And the business with the Dark Masters had not been fun. But they'd survived that too and now she and Gatomon were both a lot stronger for it, as well as their close friendship.
But what she was about to see, what she was about to hear, what she was about to try, would be a lot more harder than anything she had experienced before. Later, she would realise it had possibly been the hardest thing she had ever done in her life, even worse than giving herself up to Myotismon. How did you convince one of your closet friends to stay on the good side, when secretly they wanted to stay with the bad guys?
She had awoken to see Daisuke sitting near her, watching her carefully. She had gasped, eyes widening, sitting up so fast it had caused her head to ache. "Daisuke!" she cried, "Thank God, you're all right!"
He smiled slightly. "Of course I'm all right. I wasn't the one unconscious was I?" He shifted slightly. "How's your head?"
She rubbed it gingerly. "It's okay sort of anyway. You're awfully calm for someone held captive aren't you?" She raised an eyebrow as she watched him.
"But I'm not being held captive. See?" He held out his arms and she saw there was indeed nothing on them, no chains or anything. She was the one being held captive.
She stared, dumbfounded at him. "But ... I don't understand." Why in the world was Daisuke free? As far as she knew the Kaiser didn't like taking unnecessary risks, and letting him free definitely was one. "Where's Veemon?"
"He's still asleep. I decided to let him there when I came to see how you were doing." Daisuke yawned and stretched slightly.
"Asleep? Where?"
"In the room Ken gave me," Daisuke answered, as if it was the most normal thing in the world.
"The room Ken gave you - Hold it! Are you saying Ken gave you a room, instead of putting you in the dungeon?" Hikari stared as Daisuke nodded. "But isn't he holding you prisoner?"
"Sort of. It's hard to explain, but he trusts me enough to let me wander around and stuff." Daisuke was completely relaxed as he said this. It didn't help things to make sense. "The first night he did put me in the dungeon, but this morning he gave me a room." He shrugged. "It's not so bad." He didn't like to tell her the previous night had been spent at Ken's house. That just sounded weird, as Veemon had been quick to tell him.
Hikari only shook her head, unable to believe this was happening. "I don't believe this. Ken's treating you normally?!"
"Well, sort of. I mean, I'm his and everything, so technically he can do whatever he likes with me. Whatever he says I have to obey." Daisuke shrugged again, not looking very angry for someone who had apparently had his freedom taken away.
"Do whatever he says ..." Hikari looked on the verge of hysteria. Then she gasped softly as something occurred to her. "That day when we fought against Leomon. Ken had ordered you not to fight didn't he?"
"Uh ..." Daisuke shifted, looking extremely uncomfortably. "Not exactly. I chose not to fight, but there's a reason for that as well." He glanced up at her, his chocolate eyes meeting hers. "You never asked how I came to be Ken's."
"Well, then, how did you?" she asked, wishing she could get a straight answer out of him. It wasn't like him to be so secretive. There was something very wrong here.
Looking like he very much wanted to be out of here, he sighed and began to tell her. About the fight when he had punched Takeru, and how he had stormed off, only to come face to face with Ken. How, in his foolishness he had agreed to an agreement he had eventually lost. How he was now Ken's. He kept a number of things to himself however. What Ken had done when he had come to his house. What he had done at Ken's. There was some things you just couldn't tell anyone.
He definitely didn't tell her about his attraction to Ken. He may have lost her to Takeru, but even he wasn't crazy enough to let her now he might be gay.
"So what now?" she asked softly, drawing up her knees and attempting to drape her arms around them, but the chains only let her go so far.
Daisuke shrugged again (if she was honest the motion was beginning to annoy her). "I'm not sure. I - I think he wants me to choose between you guys and him. To stay with you guys ... or be with him." He couldn't stop his cheeks flushing, as he quickly avoided her eyes.
"He wants to what?!" She stared at him, unable to believe what she was hearing. "You're not going to choose him, are you?" When he didn't answer or meet her eyes, she pressed again. "Are you Daisuke?"
"I'm not sure," he admitted, meeting her eyes at last. They were full of uncertainty and - and - she couldn't believe this - longing. Some part of her knew it wasn't for her, Daisuke had fast got over her. But who could it be for ... no. No. Daisuke couldn't - he - he - wouldn't have feelings for Ken. He just wouldn't.
Right?
"No Daisuke!" she snapped at him and he blinked, looking stunned. "You're a Digidestined, remember? You can't choose his side. Besides, you're our leader, we need you. We fell to bits without you!" That last statement brought another question to mind. "Do you know where the others are and Gatomon?"
"They're in another dungeon, safe and sound," he answered reassuringly. "When I asked Ken if I could see you, he put you into a different dungeon."
"Did he allow you to tell me all this?" she asked frostily, not sure how to address Daisuke anymore. He could almost be called traitor. She knew that would be the first thing Miyako would screech at him when she learned about this.
"He doesn't control me like that!" he snapped, beginning to lose his temper. "I had hoped you'd understand! That's why I wanted to talk to you in private!"
"Understand?" she shrieked. "God, Daisuke, you're letting him control you. That's not like you! You're even admitting to having feelings for him. Are you saying you're gay?" He immediately looked away. "Are you?"
"I don't know!" he snarled, truly losing his temper now. "All right? I. Don't. Know. Satisfied?" He glared angrily at her.
"No." She glared right back at him, the looks scorching. "What has all of this got to do with the fight with Leomon?"
He laughed bitterly. "I thought you'd have figured it out by now. If I had fought, Ken would have told you all this right then and there, with me unable to do anything. I knew if I didn't fight, he'd kept it a secret until I was ready."
"But that's blackmail Daisuke!" she cried, looking shocked. Why couldn't he see what she was trying to get him to see?
"Is it any better to what any of you did to me?" he asked her solemnly, eyes serious. "Any of you haven't been exactly subtle concerning your opinions of me. What makes Ken's actions any worse?" She could only stare at him, unable to answer because she didn't know how. "I thought so."
They both looked up as the door opened and Ken's profile filled the entrance. "Daisuke," he said softly, "leave now. The Child of Light and I have something to discuss."
Hikari could only watch, mouth hanging open, as Dasuke obediently rose and walked towards him and the door. Even she couldn't ignore the quick looks that passed between them. She could only stare at the ground as Ken walked in completely and shut the door after him. Dimly she could hear Daisuke's footfalls as he left. How could this have happened? "Where is he going?" she asked, still staring at the ground. There was no way she was granting the Kaiser the privilege of meeting his eyes.
Ken chuckled slightly. "Most likely back to that digimon of his." She could hear the tapping of his boots as he stepped closer to her. She automatically moved away, eager to put as much distance between him and her as possible.
"I didn't know you liked Veemon," she said, trying to stall desperately, and not sure why.
"I don't," he answered smoothly. "But for Daisuke's sake I put up with him. It's no use stalling Hikari, you'll hear what you don't want to hear soon enough."
The worst thing was that he was right. She was trying to stall because she didn't want to hear what she knew he would tell her. Pulling herself together, she looked up at him. "What spell have you put on Daisuke?"
He squatted down until he was eye level with her. "No spell. Just control," he answered.
"Oh yes, that agreement, if it could be called that," she sneered, anger boiling inside her. Even though she knew she had hurt Daisuke emotionally by choosing Takeru, he was still her friend. She would not let him go to the enemy's side without a fight.
But her retort only made Ken laugh. "Yes, do show your true side Hikari. Show what you can be like under that sweet and kind facade." He only watched, bemused, as she gasped in horror. "I wonder how Daisuke would like to see you act this way? Shall we test that theory? I can always bring him back."
"You're sick!" she hissed. "By now the others will have heard everything and they'll be willing to fight for Daisuke and Veemon. We won't let you have him!"
"Wrong again Hikari dear. I've powerful spells put around my dungeons. They're virtually soundproof. Your friends don't know any of this," he said, shaking his head. "Besides, what makes you so sure they'll want to help you get Daisuke back?"
"We're his friends," she answered tightly. "Of course we'll help him."
"I'm sure," he drawled. "As my Daisuke said, you weren't that subtle in hiding your opinions about him, were you? And of course, you did break his heart. What makes you think he'll want to go back to you?"
"He's not your anything. We're his friends. He knows we don't mean any of it intentionally." She was beginning to panic and both of them knew it. Her attempts to rebuff Ken's statements were becoming more and more desperate. She was fast losing.
"I wouldn't be sure. It seems every time I meet him he's most unhappy," Ken remarked, standing up in one fluid motion. "But I'm sure he'll tell you that himself tomorrow." He turned and walked towards the door.
"What are you doing?!" Hikari cried, realising he was going to leave her here alone. "Aren't I going back to my friends?"
"So what, you can tell them what you've just been told? I don't think so. And don't bother trying to tell me you won't," he added as she opened her mouth. "I'm not a fool. No, you can think over what you've just heard now and see of it's a lost cause. I have complete dominance over him and he's practically mine anyway, especially now. When you were trying to win him back, all you did was drive him further away." He smirked. "Now, isn't that nice to know?" He turned and left the dungeon, slamming the door shut behind him. She could hear his laughter echoing as he walked away. She could only now realise the horror she had done.
In that damp dungeon, complete alone and held prisoner, Hikari realised what she had just let happen. The complete downfall of the Digidestined. Once one member left, there was no hope for the others, it was a well known fact. That was why they had always stuck together, even though they were all completely different from each other.
She had let Daisuke go without a proper thought of the consequences. She had lost their own leader.
In that damp, dark dungeon, Hikari slowly felt the tears fall.
Ken found Daisuke wandering desolately through a corridor later that night. Veemon was nowhere in sight. Ken felt himself arch an eyebrow at this. This was most definitely unusual. In the time he had known Daisuke, he had also learnt the human and digimon stuck together most times. Of all of the Digidestined, he was the closet to their digimon and the only one to blatantly show affection and love towards their companion. It was rare when Daisuke didn't have Veemon beside him, or Chibimon perched on his shoulder.
"What is wrong my Daisuke?" he enquire, coming up behind him. Before the other boy could turn to meet him, he had wrapped his arms around Daisuke's waist and was kissing his neck gently. Daiuske's gasp of pleasure sent a thrill running through the Kaiser's body.
"I was just ... I couldn't sleep," Daisuke admitted. "It's not because of the room or anything, it's lovely, it's just ..." He trailed off, apparently trying to think of what to say.
"You cannot get Hikari's words out of your head?" he suggested. He wasn't surprised to see his pet nod. Damn that girl.
"Am I stupid to give up everything I was destined for?" Daisuke wondered looking worried. "I am a Digidestined after all."
"How can you be sure being Digidestined was your full destiny?" Ken asked, thinking. Daisuke, I already know your full destiny and believe me, it's not to be Digidestined. I can only hope you're strong enough for it.
"What to you mean?" Daisuke questioned, and quickly groaned as Ken began to nibble his ear gently.
"Perhaps being Digidestined was only part of your full destiny," Ken explained. "Perhaps something else was to happen, something that included me?" It was too much of a hint to give to him, particularly this early. Put it had to be done, and his own personal feelings had to be cast aside for the moment.
"What?" Daisuke frowned and turned to him, eyes narrowed with a definite question in them. "What do you mean?"
Ken sighed regretfully. "I cannot yet tell you. I am sorry, but that is how it must be. Besides," he added coyly, "I have my own question to ask you."
"What?"
"Have you decided yet? To be blunt, are you gay or not?" At Daisuke's panicked look, he quickly amended. "I am sorry, but I must know. I want you desperately. You do not have to answer with words ..." He left the question trail off, hoping Daisuke would know what to do.
It appeared he did. Taking in a deep breath, he seemed to come to a decision. Leaning in towards Ken, he quickly kissed him, softly at first but quickly deepening. Ken moaned softly, pulling him as close to him as he could. Once that was over, Daisuke leaned against him, flushed and breathing hard. Ken slowly pulled his collar aside slightly, kissing and nibbling his neck gently. Daisuke sighed and closed his eyes in contentment.
"I trust that is your answer then?" Ken whispered in his ear and was rewarded by his love's nod. "Then there is one more favour I ask of you."
Daisuke reluctantly pulled himself away slightly to look up at him. "What is it?" Some fear or hesitation had left his wonderful eyes that were now soft and happy. Ken just barely managed to keep his control steady, feeling his heart beginning to thump irregularly.
He smiled, beginning to lead him towards his own chambers. "Just follow me - and trust me."
"I trust you." Ken knew this was genuine, there was complete trust and acceptance in Daisuke's eyes for him, as he followed Ken through the corridors.
Ken smiled, a real, genuine smile. Something that was very rare and
ultimately precious as a result. "Then neither of us has anything to worry
about."